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Richard Piatt ReportingThe Salt Lake County Council today decided to put bonding for fast-track TRAX expansion on the ballot this fall.
What we're talking about here are major expansion projects to TRAX that won't get any cheaper over time. That expansion could start as soon as next year, if Salt Lake County voters are willing to pay the price.
TRAX would expand in four accelerated phases under the plan: One west to the airport; another to the Valley Fair Mall; a line would run to West and South Jordan; and a South extension would end at 148th South in Draper.
The trade off for a faster construction schedule is a steep price tag, at 895-million dollars. To pay it off, Salt Lake County property owners would face a tax increase, about 108-dollars a year, or 7-dollars a month, on a home worth 200-thousand dollars.
Getting this bond--or loan--on the ballot took some politicking. The Salt Lake County council had to power to put it to a vote of the people, a responsibility that brought out strong feelings.
Randy Horiuchi, Salt Lake County Council: "This thing, if we don't speed it up, won't be done until 2036. I'll be dead by then. I'd like to ride the thing before I die."
Mark Crockett, Salt Lake County Council: "Some might argue that a east-west road might be a better use of the money that spending on TRAX right now."
There were also differences about hiking property taxes for the project. Some argue a sales and/or gas tax might be better.
Cort Ashton, Salt Lake County Council Chair: "This is a bigger problem than us to solve, and that the better forum to take it up is the state legislature."
Even with those differences, no one questioned light rail's ability to move people quickly, cheaply, and cleanly; or that the eventual expansion of the TRAX is even tied to quality of life in the valley.
John Inglish, Utah Transit Authority: "Our transportation infrastructure is suffering. It's reaching a critical state."
From here, expect the heavy campaigning---both pro and con--to begin.
